Presta products

I used the Gel Coat on my old boat but the new one is pretty shiny even after sitting under shrink wrap for 3 years. I was going to order more Gel Coat but maybe the UCC or UCCL might be a better option.
 
Here is what I ordered and what I paid. This is all you need for a three step process. If the gel coat isn’t real bad you can skip the first step and start on the next etc. the last step can be done with a foam pad instead of the blue but I have had good luck with the blue one. 3M makes a hand applied product called hand glaze if you find any swirl marks. You would then follow with a good wax. I like colonite fleet wax. Seals everything in and protects all your work a long time.
 

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+1 on the Collinite, although I use the 845. I still had people asking me at the end of last season if I'd just waxed it, even though we hadn't touched it since launch.
 
TNT8808 said:
+1 on the Collinite, although I use the 845. I still had people asking me at the end of last season if I'd just waxed it, even though we hadn't touched it since launch.
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That’s the one I’ve been using on my boats for several years now. A little goes a long way. It goes on a clean polished surface really easily, and subsequent coats go even faster. I like to put three coats on the sides for good coverage before launching in the Spring. When I pull the boat in the Fall the sides still have a shine and and it cleans up really easily.
 
Myroc said:
Here is what I ordered and what I paid. This is all you need for a three step process. If the gel coat isn’t real bad you can skip the first step and start on the next etc. the last step can be done with a foam pad instead of the blue but I have had good luck with the blue one. 3M makes a hand applied product called hand glaze if you find any swirl marks. You would then follow with a good wax. I like colonite fleet wax. Seals everything in and protects all your work a long time.
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No problems with the Fleetwax adhering properly to the 3M glaze? Usually best results from a last step product are achieved when applying to amfreshly polished surface with nothing on them.
 
JVM225 said:
No problems with the Fleetwax adhering properly to the 3M glaze? Usually best results from a last step product are achieved when applying to amfreshly polished surface with nothing on them.
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No problems at all. I would only use it if you have swirl marks that bother you because it’s a bit of work to go over the whole boat by hand. You will be able to wax directly over it without any issues. I have done it for years especially on dark colors where swirl marks are more noticeable.
 
Myroc said:
Here is what I ordered and what I paid. This is all you need for a three step process. If the gel coat isn’t real bad you can skip the first step and start on the next etc. the last step can be done with a foam pad instead of the blue but I have had good luck with the blue one. 3M makes a hand applied product called hand glaze if you find any swirl marks. You would then follow with a good wax. I like colonite fleet wax. Seals everything in and protects all your work a long time.
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Thanks gives me a good baseline. I need to get the ultra cut, chroma polish, new black wool and the green wool pads for this year.
 
Just referring to the blue hull...I have been down the Presta, 3M, Meguiers, Collinite(last year), Buff magic...path plus more.. I always go with the 3 step process..compound, polish, wax. Frankly, I am not happy with any of them.... mainly because of the ability to remove slight oxidization and lasting protection thru the summer. This year I am using the 3 step process from Smoove... I have seen a slightly above average ability to remove the oxidation with a 3M pad on a rotary and the polish using an orbital does seem to noticeably clean up the swirls from the compound... so I am a bit happier with the result so far. I am not recommending this product yet but it does look promising so far.

https://www.smoovewax.com/

 
I did my starboard topside today with Ultra Cutting Creme Light. This is the side that sees afternoon sun so there was blotchy oxidation, but no chalk. There are a few spots I'm not quite happy with that I will hit with the Ultra Polish to clean them up.
 

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For those of you new to Presta products. Here's what you get with Ultra Cutting Creme Light followed by Ultra Polish, after one year since last treatment.

Another thing I like about these products are they are water based. Super easy to clean up. I do not use a spur or anything like that to clean pads as I go. I just take the pad off, hit it with the hose for about 10-15 seconds and then spin the water off with the buffer. Then ready to go again with a completely clean pad. I usually do this short cleaning step every four sections or so. Gives me a little break as I go as well.
 

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ZZ13 said:
For those of you new to Presta products. Here's what you get with Ultra Cutting Creme Light followed by Ultra Polish, after one year since last treatment.

Another thing I like about these products are they are water based. Super easy to clean up. I do not use a spur or anything like that to clean pads as I go. I just take the pad off, hit it with the hose for about 10-15 seconds and then spin the water off with the buffer. Then ready to go again with a completely clean pad. I usually do this short cleaning step every four sections or so. Gives me a little break as I go as well.
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A+ sir! Looking good
 
Got some Presta Ultra polish and going to give it a try with a 3M black foam polishing pad to see if I can bring the sides below the rubrails to the next level before wax. They’re in pretty nice shape already because I polished before waxing in the fall before the shrinkwrap went on. My usual routine is to re-polish lightly in the Spring and coat with 3 coats of Collinite Insulator Wax before launch.
Interested to see if the Presta is better than what I currently use.
 
Spent some time today getting a jump on the polishing below the rubrails. Got one side done. Tried out the Presta Ultra Polish with a black 3M pad.
Presta is a good product, but no better or no worse than the Gel Coat Labs product I’ve been using the last several years. Again, I polish my boat before the shrinkwrap goes on in November to get the surface nice and then apply a single coat of wax for the winter.
I always do another light polish below the rubrails in the Spring because of the smudge and dirt marks from the shrinkwrap, and then follow up with 3 coats of Collinite Insulator Wax before Launch for protection throughout the season. I like to layer my last step product to make sure I have 100% coverage.
My hull below the rubrails is never in really bad shape.
My feelings on Presta: If you don’t have any polish left and need to order some anyway (like I needed to do), or if you are unhappy with what you’re currently using, then give it a shot.
Regarding the foam pad: I’ve tried them before on boats and never really been happy with them, but I’m always willing to give something another shot with a different product. I use foam pads exclusively when I do a car, but for boats I’ll stick with good wool pads.
I used the foam pad with the Presta for about 10 minutes before I pulled it off and replaced it with a wool pad.
For you guys that are using a foam pad with your rotary polisher on your boat, give a wool pad a try and see if you like it better.
Sorry for the sideways pics.
Yes, that’s me bundled up in the reflection in the blue band around the boat. It’s still a bit chilly here.
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Blueone said:
Just referring to the blue hull...I have been down the Presta, 3M, Meguiers, Collinite(last year), Buff magic...path plus more.. I always go with the 3 step process..compound, polish, wax. Frankly, I am not happy with any of them.... mainly because of the ability to remove slight oxidization and lasting protection thru the summer. This year I am using the 3 step process from Smoove... I have seen a slightly above average ability to remove the oxidation with a 3M pad on a rotary and the polish using an orbital does seem to noticeably clean up the swirls from the compound... so I am a bit happier with the result so far. I am not recommending this product yet but it does look promising so far.

https://www.smoovewax.com/

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Compared to Presta, were you happier with the 3 step Smoove process? I used Smoove wax after a 7 step polish on the topside and it seemed to last 3 months. Not more. I just had the hull Presta Ultra cut and then their wax over it and it looks amazing. Wondering if I should finish with a poly like Smoove or something else. Thanks
 
Buyajet said:
Compared to Presta, were you happier with the 3 step Smoove process? I used Smoove wax after a 7 step polish on the topside and it seemed to last 3 months. Not more. I just had the hull Presta Ultra cut and then their wax over it and it looks amazing. Wondering if I should finish with a poly like Smoove or something else. Thanks
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It looks great in the dark building. I will really know when it gets outside. The compound was fine easy to get off and build up wasn't bad, The polish I used a orbital with a sponge pad. for some reason the sponge soaked up alot of polish... I mean full... it got the swirls off from the compound but I would call the result average. The wax was good...it didn't soak into the sponge and stayed on the surface like it should. I had better results letting the wax dry a bit longer than normal. I did two coats on the blue of wax and that made a difference ...it just looked better. I wont know how it holds up outside for a while so jury is still out.

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Blueone said:
It looks great in the dark building. I will really know when it gets outside. The compound was fine easy to get off and build up wasn't bad, The polish I used a orbital with a sponge pad. for some reason the sponge soaked up alot of polish... I mean full... it got the swirls off from the compound but I would call the result average. The wax was good...it didn't soak into the sponge and stayed on the surface like it should. I had better results letting the wax dry a bit longer than normal. I did two coats on the blue of wax and that made a difference ...it just looked better. I wont know how it holds up outside for a while so jury is still out.
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Thanks. I’ll share my results
later this summer too. Used wool pads for all. They held up well and didn’t need extensive cleaning in process. I applied with a sponge by hand , then went buffing. Hope it lasts for both of us!
 
Buyajet said:
Thanks. I’ll share my results
later this summer too. Used wool pads for all. They held up well and didn’t need extensive cleaning in process. I applied with a sponge by hand , then went buffing. Hope it lasts for both of us!
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When I saw the problem with the polish I thought of going to a wool pad. I havn't done my hardtop yet... Didn't want to fall 15' onto concrete... I am going to try polishing with the wool pad there ..instead of using a sponge pad
 
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Blueone said:
It looks great in the dark building. I will really know when it gets outside. The compound was fine easy to get off and build up wasn't bad, The polish I used a orbital with a sponge pad. for some reason the sponge soaked up alot of polish... I mean full... it got the swirls off from the compound but I would call the result average. The wax was good...it didn't soak into the sponge and stayed on the surface like it should. I had better results letting the wax dry a bit longer than normal. I did two coats on the blue of wax and that made a difference ...it just looked better. I wont know how it holds up outside for a while so jury is still out.

I got it to a mirror finish. If it lasts the summer, I'm ok with it.
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I got it to a mirror finish. If it lasts the summer, I'm ok with it.
View attachment 67324 View attachment 67325 View attachment 67326
 
Blueone said:
Just referring to the blue hull...I have been down the Presta, 3M, Meguiers, Collinite(last year), Buff magic...path plus more.. I always go with the 3 step process..compound, polish, wax. Frankly, I am not happy with any of them.... mainly because of the ability to remove slight oxidization and lasting protection thru the summer. This year I am using the 3 step process from Smoove... I have seen a slightly above average ability to remove the oxidation with a 3M pad on a rotary and the polish using an orbital does seem to noticeably clean up the swirls from the compound... so I am a bit happier with the result so far. I am not recommending this product yet but it does look promising so far.

https://www.smoovewax.com/

Click to expand...

Blueone - I just spoke to a detailer yesterday who said he will use Smoove on my boat in the next two weeks. I have never heard of Smoove which frankly means nothing. He's the expert so I'm hoping for good results. How is yours?
 
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